Holland ‘excited' for second chance

DETROIT Peter Holland felt right at home as he sat at his stall in the visitors dressing room Friday morning at Joe Louis Arena.

His parents and sister were making the four-hour drive from their native Toronto to watch him make his return to the Ducks.

“I'm excited,” Holland said. “They get a chance to watch me play. It's where I played my first (NHL) game. It's exciting. Joe Louis Arena is a great building to play in and playing against the Detroit Red Wings. I'm just trying to earn a spot.”

Holland, 22, was given another chance when the Ducks recalled him Wednesday from Norfolk (AHL). The center has little left to prove at that level but there is still the next big step to regular NHL duty.

Ducks coach Bruce Boudreau only gave Holland one chance earlier this season after the center made the club out of training camp. Boudreau said that fourth-line opportunity wasn't a true look and is backing up that for now by throwing him into a prime role.

Holland played against the Red Wings on the second line with Bobby Ryan moved back to the left wing and Teemu Selanne occupying his customary right side spot. Holland was a plus-1 in 13 minutes, 24 seconds of action.

It is a chance that Holland has always desired, but he acknowledged the thought of playing with Ryan and Selanne could be daunting.

“I was joking with somebody yesterday that I can do a lot worse than playing with Bobby Ryan and Teemu Selanne,” he said. “I'm looking forward to it. It'll be a good challenge for me and an opportunity for me.”

Maroon summoned

Left wing Patrick Maroon also figures to see action after being called up for the first time this season.

Maroon, 24, had 13 goals and 17 assists in 45 games with Norfolk. He took the place of Brad Staubitz on the fourth line and it was his first NHL action since a two-game cup of coffee in October 2011.

“It's your dream to come up here and play with these kinds of guys,” he said. “This caliber of hockey. Just to play. Everyone wants to make it to the NHL. Everyone wants to stick. It's exciting.”

Goalie situation

Viktor Fasth made 26 saves to improve to 7-0 in seven starts. It is the longest winning streak to begin an NHL career since ex-Duck Dan Ellis won his first seven for Dallas and Nashville.

Jonas Hiller missed his third consecutive game because of an upper-body injury suffered last week in Dallas. Hiller has taken shots in practice the past three days, but the only way he'll be the backup today in Nashville is if he's in condition to play.

“Close,” Boudreau said. “But until he's able to play, there's no sense keeping him on the bench. He's getting better every day.”

Boudreau is comfortable using Fasth on back-to-back nights. Fasth did so last weekend when he relieved Hiller after the first period in Dallas, and then stopped 26 shots in a 6-5 shootout victory over St. Louis.

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